Femina Survey: Inside the mind of a millennial woman

Whether you are a millennial or are struggling to understand one, life right now can get a bit confusing. Work culture is changing, no one seems to date anymore and Instagram is giving everyone heartburn. Femina decided to decode these emerging trends by going straight to the source. We surveyed millennial women (aged 18 to 35) to find out where they stand on issues like sex, career, money, relationships and identity, travel,health, technology, and community and labels.

Let’s see what the Gen Y women think about sex.

Would you engage in a sexual relationship with someone if there was no commitment involved (friends with benefits)?

Quality over quantity: Half the women interviewed, including 20 per cent who hit ‘maybe’, said they were okay with sex without a commitment, while only 5 per cent ‘won’t mind having more than one partner at the same time’. “Women are aware of their sexual rights and are open to experimentation. But at the same time, they are looking for quality over quantity, and would rather have less sex than have bad sex,” observes leading sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari, adding, “They want to devote more time to foreplay, after-play and are vocal about their needs.”

How important is it for you to be aware of your partner’s sexual health and past?

History more important than geography: That 60 per cent women said their partner’s sexual history is extremely important to them points to the fact that women these days are making informed choices. “Gen Y women are aware of the risks involved, whether it’s pregnancy or STDs. I would say history is more important to them than geography,” is Dr Kothari’s pithy summary.

No hookups, please: Only 2 per cent of our respondents touted apps and dating sites as their preferred way to meet people, and 14 per cent said they’d hooked up with a person from a dating app. While it seems to turn the notion that millennials are a hookup generation on its head, Dr Kothari says, “While the figures are too low and could have been true a decade ago, it could have to do with the conventional setup under which Indians are brought up, and that men and women are wired differently, with the latter being more emotional and more commitment-driven.”

Is sex an essential part of dating?

Third date or later: While 42 per cent called sex an essential part of dating, 93 per cent said they would wait as long as it took to be sure of their partner before hitting the bed with them. Dr Kothari says, “This could be, in part, attributed to the fact that young women have access to sex toys and are not dependent on just men to satisfy them.”